Administrative law
How public bodies decide, and how to challenge them
Administrative law governs the relationship between citizens and public authorities. This guide explains how administrative decisions are made, how a person can request a review, and how a dispute may reach an administrative court. It is general information, not personalized legal advice.
Stages of a dispute
From a contested decision to the administrative judge
01
Identify the decision
Establish the act at issue, its date, its author and the deadline that applies. The facts come first, because the applicable rule depends on them.
02
Request a review
Before going to court, an administrative appeal may be possible, either gracieux (addressed to the same authority) or hiérarchique (addressed to a superior). Check the official text that governs the procedure.
03
Bring the matter before the court
If the review is refused or no answer is received, a recours contentieux may be brought before the competent administrative tribunal within the statutory time limit, generally two months.
04
Assess the outcome
The judgment can be analysed against the legal rule it applies. Further appeal routes, such as the Conseil d'État, have their own conditions and deadlines.
Check every rule at its official source
Juriscope links to public registries and statutory databases, including Légifrance for legal texts and the public service portal service-public.fr for procedures. Always confirm the current version of a text before relying on it.